The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-12
SYLVIA'S INVESTMENT.
How She Came to Make It, and
What Came OF It.

"Did Sylvia Bentley come to see you
today" asked young Mrs. Manning
as she entered the cosy parlor in which
her aunt was seated, and took off her
bonnet preparatory to making long
call. II met her near here this m orn-
ing on my way to market, and thought
perhaps she had been in to consult you
about that husband of hers"
NO." answered Mrs. Barton. "sho
was not here; and l would be, prob
ably, the last person she would ask for
advice or assistance, for was the
most strenuous opposer of her mar
rage. had known Ernest Bentley
from his childhood, and knew he was
not calculated to make Sylvia happy.
lie is handsome, and has no particular
vices; but he never succeeded In any
thing. He has no stability whatever,
+. and lacks energy and purpose. 1: told
Sylvia Just what she might expects and
begged her to give him up but, of
course. it was of no use. A girl in! love
never will listen to reason"
"How she has gone off In: her
looks" said Mrs. Manning, whose hus-
band was prosperous hardware mer-
chant. "She was such a pretty; girl
ten years ago"
II haven't seen her for along time,"
and Mrs. Barton sighed.
Then you would hardly recognize
her now She is pale. thin and weary
looking She passed me this morning
with merely bow-and we were once
so intimate! | suppose this last! fail
ure has crushed the life almost out of
her. And what are they to do. Aunt
JuliaP They have five children, you
know"
4 am sure I can't tell. 1t is not
likely Ernest will find another friend
to start him in business Mr..
Stratton has suffered so heavily that
no one else will want to try the expert
ment I pity Sylvia from the bottom
Of my heart"
Perhaps Aunt Andrews has left her
something in her will"
ut is not probable. Cousin Penelope
opposed the marriage almost as Darn
estly as l did. She often remar ked
that one might as well put watersin a
sieve as money in the hands Of Ernest
Bentley. 1t is likely, however, that
sister Mary has been left something.
She was sent for, and Is at the An
drews' house now to hear the viii
read. Cousin Penelope could moi
have left much to any one, fol- she
was obliged to live very economically,
and never had cent to spare.
There comes Aunt Mary NOW, '
said Mrs Manning, as she glai ncet
nom the window by which she sat
snow we will KIN ow all abou thu
will"
Amoment later Mrs. Jessup7 wh'
was a widow, and had mad he
home with her sister-in-law for many
years-entered the room.
you here, Fannie!' she exclaim ed
as she kissed Mrs. Manning affection
ately. THAT is fortunate, for I kno "
you want to hear about my legacy
Well, it don't amount to much.
have the house, furniture, and poison
al effects. The money, amounting +
about sixteen hundred dollars wa
leftto Sylvia Bentley"
ITO SylviaT" exclaimed Mrs. Barton
ut don't seem possible! Was sh
thereP"
"Yes, and almost tainted with Joy
II must have been great relief to he
to find Penelope had remembere he
so generously, for l know she ha (ha
hard work to get along since ENes
tailed There wa one condition mad
--she is to invest the money in somi
thing with Which her husband is
have nothing to do. Not dollar
to be controlled by him.
How humiliating to Sylvia to az
cept 1t with such proviso," sal
Fannie.
"Yes. but she has sense enough
Know that Cousin Penelope inteni ID
for the best Though she d sn
choose to talk about them. 8lv
KNOWS perfectly well her husband
faults and failings. She took him II
better or worse, and she makes Il
pest of her bargain. If she has I
lented it she thinks it well to keep II
TACT to herself. She has never uttere
word of complaint, even to me.
But one can tell from her face III
sle has suffered great deal, Au
Mary said Fannie, "aud only hol
she will invest her sixteen hundr'
dollars advantageously."
"Ihe interest on it won't 90 We
lar. no matter how she invests it," sa
Mrs. Barton. Ernest Bentley W
nave to go to work at something. /
onght not TO be particular. With SUI
family dependent on him he car